Young people from more than 25 Caribbean countries gathered in Sint Maarten in late March for a Climate Justice Camp. The event was aimed at building knowledge and networks, sharing stories and skills, and aligning on strategies and demands to unify the climate justice movement across the region’s islands and territories.
It was organised by Roots via Greenpeace.
During the camp, participants developed and followed four tracks focused on energy sector and transition; adaptation and resilience; gender and climate justice; and marine conservation.
T&T’s Khadija Stewart, who is the Caribbean Regional Representative for the Global Deep Sea Mining Campaign at Sustainable Ocean Alliance led the marine conservation track. It came two months after an oil spill off the coast of Cove in Tobago which created an environmental disaster that spread to the waters of other countries.
She told Guardian Media, the camp presented the opportunity to reaffirm to the region’s young people the need to protect marine life. Stewart said, “People see it [the sea] but they don’t appreciate it. One of the things we tried to do is to help people understand what is there, why we need to protect it, and how we can go about protecting it. We also looked at issues like pollution. We used the oil spill in Tobago as a very big example of when you neglect or you don’t pay much attention to an open space but we very much depend on.”
For a region which is bordered by oceans, Stewart fears the public isn’t aware enough of its importance. She is aiming to change that by educating young people.
The energy transition track was also a major focus given economics such as Guyana, T&T and Suriname are dependent on oil and gas. David Gumbs, who is the Director of Islands Energy Programme led that track.
Gumbs said a large part of the energy transition focus needs to be on diversifying sources that produce electricity. T&T citizens enjoy among the cheapest electricity rates in the world and also consume among the highest globally. Gumbs said, “Diversifying makes you more resilient. If you produce your energy at home with electricity for transportation with a homegrown source that is free and comes naturally from the sun, you can eventually wean yourself off fossil fuels.”
He said exporting oil and gas is a different situation as there are economic impacts for us here in the Caribbean.
Meanwhile, Caribbean Regional Director at Climate Tracker, Dizzanne Billy, was satisfied with how the camp edified those who attended. She told Guardian Media, “The camp represents a significant step forward in the climate justice movement within the region. By focusing on four tracks which are crucial for the region specifically, the camp addressed not only environmental issues but also their intersections with social justice, economic inequality, and other systemic problems. This intersectional approach is crucial for building a more comprehensive and inclusive climate justice movement.”
She went further in adding that the camp offered Caribbean youth a “unique” opportunity to engage with a range of climate-related issues while also fostering their leadership, advocacy skills, and commitment to building a more sustainable and resilient future for the region.
“This education is crucial for equipping young people with the knowledge and skills needed to address these pressing issues in their communities,” she said.
The camp comes as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) from around the world get ready to head to Antigua for SIDS4, the Fourth International Conference on Small Island Developing States taking place in May in St John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.
Among the local and regional partners putting the camp together were, The Breadfruit Collective, the Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI), the Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, Caribbean Climate Justice, Climate Activist Defenders, and Climate Tracker.
